KJV Ephesians 5:1 Be ye
therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ
also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but
rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for
because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were
sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children
of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and
righteousness and truth;)

KJV Luke 11:14 And he was
casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was
gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He
casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others,
tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their
thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to
desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan
also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say
that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out
devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your
judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the
kingdom of God is come upon you.

21 When a strong man armed
keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he
shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour
wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

23 He that is not with me is
against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean
spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and
finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And
when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and
taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they
enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than
the first.

27 And it came to pass, as
he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and
said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which
thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear
the word of God, and keep it.

Third Sunday in Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father,
who hast sent Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh,
that He might overcome the devil, and defend us poor sinners against the
adversary: We give thanks unto Thee for Thy merciful help, and we beseech Thee
to attend us with Thy grace in all temptations, to preserve us from carnal
security, and by Thy Holy Spirit to keep us in Thy word and Thy fear, that unto
the end we may be delivered from the enemy, and obtain eternal salvation,
through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and
reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Stronger Man

Luke 11:14 And he was casting
out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out,
the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth
out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him,
sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto
them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a
house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided
against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out
devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do
your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if
I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come
upon you.

In the first place, like all the Gospels this one teaches us
faith and love; for it presents Christ to us as a most loving Savior and Helper
in every need and tells us that he who believes this is saved. For we see here
that Christ had nothing to do with people who were healthy, but with a poor man
who was greatly afflicted with many ills. He was blind, as Matthew says; also
dumb and possessed with a demon, as Luke tells us here. Now all mutes are also
deaf, so that in the Greek language deaf and dumb are one word.

By this act Christ draws us to himself, leads us
to look to him for every blessing, and to go to him in every time of need. He
does this that we also, according to the nature of love, should do unto others
as he does unto us.

The first thing we notice after the miracle is
opposition – true hatred about what Christ has done and how He has done this.
Some wondered, but others said, He has done this with the power of Satan. A
third group wanted to see another miracle (sign from heaven). Although Jesus
performed miracles time after time, some always wanted more.

The same is true today. God performs miracles
that many never see, and He provides for us in ways that should make us
thankful. Our nation could enjoy many blessings, with peace and prosperity, but
we have turned away from the fruits of the Spirit to follow the gods of this
age. And the church organizations have joined the stampede.

One young woman visited a college class and
wondered why her top-rated university was such a depressing place to study. I
was guessing that her school was a church school originally – and it was. Now
it is much bigger and richer, with many honors and programs. But the original
Christian purpose is gone. I mentioned my own experience with a more recent
change in a church college.

In this miracle Jesus addressed the people who
assigned His power to Satan. This is an important introduction to the second
part of the lesson. At first the two parts seem distinct and separate, an odd
selection for a Gospel. But they are the same lesson told in two different
ways.

Jesus’ argument is that Satan did not give him
power to drive out Satan. If that were so, it would be a kingdom divided
against itself, and it would have to fall.

Jesus turned the accusation around and asked if
the opponents cast out demons the same way, with the help of Satan.

20 But if I with the
finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

He finished this part of the
debate with a positive statement of His work. With the power of God He cast out
devils, so the Kingdom of God has come upon them.

21 When a strong man
armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than
he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour
wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

This is a compelling image
to remember about the battle between Satan and Christ. The mysterious verses
take on great clarity when we realize that the strong man is Satan, who
controlled earth until the advent of Christ. Through the crucifixion and
resurrection, Jesus—the stronger man—overpowered Satan, robbed the devil of his
trusted armor, and gave away the spoils of the earth to believers.

10. He answers them in the third place, by a comparison taken
from life, namely that of a strong man overcome by one stronger, and robbed of
all his armor and goods etc. By this he testifies also that no one but God can
overcome the devil, so that again no man can boast of being able of himself to
drive out either sin or the devil. Notice how he pictures the devil! He calls
him a mighty giant who guards his court and home, that is, the devil not only
possesses the world as his own domain, but he has garrisoned and fortified it,
so that no one can take it from him. He rules it also with undisputed sway, so
that it does whatever he commands. Just as little as a house or court may
withstand or contend against the tyrant who is its master, can man’s free will
and natural powers oppose sin and Satan, that is, not at all; but they are
subject to them. And as that house must be conquered by a stronger man and thus
wrested from the tyrant, so must man also be ransomed through Christ and
wrested from Satan. We see again, therefore, that our works and righteousness
contribute absolutely nothing toward our salvation; it is effected alone by the
grace of God.

This has always been the
typical battle scenario between opponents. The stronger man takes over the
castle, uses the spoils, and reigns triumphant. In the Bible are there two
kingdoms, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. They are perpetually at
war. Those who believe in Christ are members of the Kingdom of God. Those who
do not believe or stop believing (apostates) are members of the Kingdom of
Satan.

This is a passage of great
comfort for all Christians, because it teaches that faith in Christ means
participating in the victory over Satan. The devil will still threaten and
torment, through our frailty and sinful nature, even through the propaganda of
the unbelieving world. But the victory has been won and the price has been
paid. Faith in Christ overcomes Satan.

KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith.

All the false teachers have so many methods for
overcoming Satan, and they all involve “doing something.” Acts of piety and
acts of contrition are prescribed, but the two foundational methods are ignored
(the Word and faith). First of all, the Word of God is best fumigant against
Satan, as Luther teaches in the Third Commandment (Large Catechism).

100] For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be
already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil,
who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your
heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the
commandments. Therefore you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon
your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not
sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. 101] On the
other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously
contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but
always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure
heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but
creative, living words. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity
impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil
is put to Right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled,
and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of
hypocrisy, however brilliant.

Faith in the Word naturally
accompanies the power of the Word. Here there is a great gap, because trust in
the Word is constantly diminished by an emphasis on doing. One example is – you
must join a cell group to be a real Christian. And everyone is directed toward
marketing and selling with human wisdom. Eventually there is not trust at all
in the Word. The same has happened with those who pick and choose what they
believe in the Scriptures. Eventually the same person who began with some qualms
is busy with open attacks on the Word of God.

That decline is best
explained by this lesson. The warfare never stops, so anyone who begins to
play on Satan’s side, ever so little,
willl be drawn back in and redouble his previous efforts – only in the opposite
direction.

23 He that is not with me
is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the
unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking
rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came
out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then
goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than
himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that
man is worse than the first.

Jesus made it clear that
there are only two sides, no compromising middle of the road position. This is
the first area of attack, when people insist on some compromise and become
greatly offended at those who insist on no compromise about doctrine itself. People
are willing to go to war for non-essential, trivial matters (such as synodical
elections today) because those issues are ways to avoid the important ones.

Jesus’ warning here is quite
clear – there are those who gather and those who scatter. If someone has become
a believer, he is all the more susceptible to a renewed attack. The unclean
spirit (false doctrine, unbelief) comes back with all his demonic associates.
The house (person) swept and decorated is occupied, worse than ever before, and
so the last state of the man is worse than before. I have seen this with people
who saw the light about UOJ and went back to it with frantic attacks on
justification by faith, mounting worse attacks than they easily answered a few
months before.

Bill O’Reilly, a
self-proclaimed expert on the Bible, has declared that the Scriptures are full
of error.

Someone who goes down this road misses all the
spiritual treasures of the Scriptures because they are present and yet hidden.
Soon the question is asked over and over, “Did Jesus really say this?” and
“Does this contradict another passage?”

Tricks are easy to use on people. When I played
Trivial Pursuit with our son on the other team, I knew he had the right
answers. When he began to urge his answer on his team, I asked them, “Are you
going to trust a ten year-old kid?” Instead of thinking I was the opponent,
they let my suggestions take over. Time after time they went against his answer
and took the wrong one. My side won.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these
things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him,
Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But
he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

There are many places where Marian worship is
anticipated and refuted by Jesus. This is another example.

The woman says, sentimentally, Blessed is Mary’s
body.

Jesus replied, “No, blessed are those who hear the
Word of God and guard it.” The word “keep” can also be used to guard a jail. So
those who value the truth of the Scriptures believe it and guard it from
adulteration.

Efficacy of the Word

Contributors

About the Author

Gregory L. Jackson is an independent Lutheran pastor, with degrees from Augustana College, Illinois; Waterloo Seminary, Ontario; Yale University; Notre Dame; and the University of Phoenix. He has been married to Christina for 40 years. Their beloved daughters Bethany and Erin Joy are with Christ. Their son Martin is married to Tammy, blessing them with three delightful grandchildren.